Last updated: Tuesday, 26-Feb-2002 12:19:24 MST
Edits: v1.0 First there was 1.0. Before that there was darkness.
v1.1 Change in description of viscosity.
v1.2 Updated info on AMSOIL (courtesy of Morgan McArthur)

Choosing the best motor oil is a topic that comes up frequently in
discussions between motoheads, whether they are talking about motorcycles
or cars. The following article is intended to help you make a choice based
on more than the advertising hype.

Oil companies provide data on their oils most often referred to as
"typical inspection data". This is an average of the actual physical and a
few common chemical properties of their oils. This information is
available to the public through their distributors or by writing or
calling the company directly. I have compiled a list of the most popular,
premium oils so that a ready comparison can be made. If your favorite oil
is not on the list get the data from the distributor and use what I have
as a data base.

This article is going to look at six of the most important properties of a
motor oil readily available to the public: viscosity, viscosity index
(VI), flash point, pour point, % sulfated ash, and % zinc.

Viscosity is a measure of the "flowability" of an oil. More specifically,
it is the property of an oil to develop and maintain a certain amount of
shearing stress dependent on flow, and then to offer continued resistance
to flow. Thicker oils generally have a higher viscosity, and thinner oils
a lower viscosity. This is the most important property for an engine. An
oil with too low a viscosity can shear and lose film strength at high
temperatures. An oil with too high a viscosity may not pump to the proper
parts at low temperatures and the film may tear at high rpm.

The weights given on oils are arbitrary numbers assigned by the S.A.E.
(Society of Automotive Engineers). These numbers correspond to "real"
viscosity, as measured by several accepted techniques. These measurements
are taken at specific temperatures. Oils that fall into a certain range
are designated 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 by the S.A.E. The W means the oil
meets specifications for viscosity at 0 F and is therefore suitable for
Winter use.

Multi viscosity oils work like this: Polymers are added to a light base
(5W, 10W, 20W), which prevent the oil from thinning as much as it warms
up. At cold temperatures the polymers are coiled up and allow the oil to
flow as their low numbers indicate. As the oil warms up the polymers begin
to unwind into long chains that prevent the oil from thinning as much as
it normally would. The result is that at 100 degrees C the oil has thinned
only as much as the higher viscosity number indicates. Another way of
looking at multi-vis oils is to think of a 20W-50 as a 20 weight oil that
will not thin more than a 50 weight would when hot.

Multi viscosity oils are one of the great improvements in oils, but they
should be chosen wisely. Always use a multi grade with the narrowest span
of viscosity that is appropriate for the temperatures you are going to
encounter. In the winter base your decision on the lowest temperature you
will encounter, in the summer, the highest temperature you expect. The
polymers can shear and burn forming deposits that can cause ring sticking
and other problems. 10W-40 and 5W-30 require a lot of polymers (synthetics
excluded) to achieve that range. This has caused problems in diesel
engines, but fewer polymers are better for all engines. The wide viscosity
range oils, in general, are more prone to viscosity and thermal breakdown
due to the high polymer content. It is the oil that lubricates, not the
additives. Oils that can do their job with the fewest additives are the
best.

Very few manufactures recommend 10W-40 any more, and some threaten to void
warranties if it is used. It was not included in this article for that
reason. 20W-50 is the same 30 point spread, but because it starts with a
heavier base it requires less viscosity index improvers (polymers) to do
the job. AMSOIL can formulate their 10W-30 and 15W-40 with no viscosity
index improvers but uses some in the 10W-40 and 5W-30. Mobil 1 uses no
viscosity improvers in their 5W-30, and I assume the new 10W-30. Follow
your manufacturer's recommendations as to which weights are appropriate
for your vehicle.

Viscosity Index is an empirical number indicating the rate of change in
viscosity of an oil within a given temperature range. Higher numbers
indicate a low change, lower numbers indicate a relatively large change.
The higher the number the better. This is one major property of an oil
that keeps your bearings happy. These numbers can only be compared within
a viscosity range. It is not an indication of how well the oil resists
thermal breakdown.

Flash point is the temperature at which an oil gives off vapors that can
be ignited with a flame held over the oil. The lower the flash point the
greater tendency for the oil to suffer vaporization loss at high
temperatures and to burn off on hot cylinder walls and pistons. The flash
point can be an indicator of the quality of the base stock used. The
higher the flash point the better. 400 F is the minimum to prevent
possible high consumption. Flash point is in degrees F.

Pour point is 5 degrees F above the point at which a chilled oil shows no
movement at the surface for 5 seconds when inclined. This measurement is
especially important for oils used in the winter. A borderline pumping
temperature is given by some manufacturers. This is the temperature at
which the oil will pump and maintain adequate oil pressure. This was not
given by a lot of the manufacturers, but seems to be about 20 degrees F
above the pour point. The lower the pour point the better. Pour point is
in degrees F.

% sulfated ash is how much solid material is left when the oil burns. A
high ash content will tend to form more sludge and deposits in the engine.
Low ash content also seems to promote long valve life. Look for oils with
a low ash content.

% zinc is the amount of zinc used as an extreme pressure, anti-wear
additive. The zinc is only used when there is actual metal to metal
contact in the engine. Hopefully the oil will do its job and this will
rarely occur, but if it does, the zinc compounds react with the metal to
prevent scuffing and wear. A level of .11% is enough to protect an
automobile engine for the extended oil drain interval, under normal use.
Those of you with high revving, air cooled motorcycles or turbo charged
cars or bikes might want to look at the oils with the higher zinc content.
More doesn't give you better protection, it gives you longer protection if
the rate of metal to metal contact is abnormally high. High zinc content
can lead to deposit formation and plug fouling.

The Data:
Listed alphabetically --- indicates the data was not available

Brand

VI

Flash

Pour

%ash

%zinc

_

20W-50

AMSOIL (old)

136

482

-38

---

AMSOIL (new)

157

507

-44

---

---

Castrol GTX

122

440

-15

.85

.12

Exxon High Performance

119

419

-13

.70

.11

Havoline Formula 3

125

465

-30

1.0

---

Kendall GT-1

129

390

-25

1.0

.16

Pennzoil GT Perf.

120

460

-10

.9

---

Quaker State Dlx.

155

430

-25

.9

---

Red Line

150

503

-49

---

---

Shell Truck Guard

130

450

-15

1.0

.15

Spectro Golden 4

174

440

-35

---

.15

Spectro Golden M.G.

174

440

-35

---

.13

Unocal

121

432

-11

.74

.12

Valvoline All Climate

430

-10

1.0

.11

_

Valvoline Turbo

140

440

-10

.99

.13

Valvoline Race

140

425

-10

1.2

.20

Valvoline Synthetic

146

465

-40

<1.5

.12

_

20W-40

AMSOIL

124

500

-49

---

---

Castrol Multi-Grade

110

440

-15

.85

.12

Quaker State

121

415

-15

.9

---

_

15W-50

Chevron

204

415

-18

.96

.11

Mobil 1

170

470

-55

---

---

Mystic JT8

144

420

-20

1.7

.15

Red Line

152

503

-49

---

---

_

5W-50

Castrol Syntec

180

437

-45

1.2

.10

Quaker State Synquest

457

-76

---

---

_

Pennzoil Performax

176

---

-69

---

---

_

5W-40

Havoline

170

450

-40

1.4

---

_

15W-40

AMSOIL (old)

135

460

-38

---

AMSOIL (new)

164

462

-49

---

---

Castrol

134

415

-15

1.3

.14

Chevron Delo 400

136

421

-27

1.0

---

Exxon XD3

---

417

-11

.9

.14

Exxon XD3 Extra

135

399

-11

.95

.13

Kendall GT-1

135

410

-25

1.0

.16

Mystic JT8

142

440

-20

1.7

.15

Red Line

149

495

-40

---

---

Shell Rotella w/XLA

146

410

-25

1.0

.13

Valvoline All Fleet

140

---

-10

1.0

.15

Valvoline Turbo

140

420

-10

.99

.13

_

10W-30

AMSOIL (old)

142

480

-70

---

AMSOIL (new)

162

520

-76

---

---

Castrol GTX

140

415

-33

.85

.12

Chevron Supreme

150

401

-26

.96

.11

Exxon Superflo Hi Perf 135

392

-22

.70

.11

_

Exxon Superflo Supreme 133

400

-31

.85

.13

_

Havoline Formula 3

139

430

-30

1.0

---

Kendall GT-1

139

390

-25

1.0

.16

Mobil 1

160

450

-65

---

---

Pennzoil PLZ Turbo

140

410

-27

1.0

---

Quaker State

156

410

-30

.9

---

Red Line

139

475

-40

---

---

Shell Fire and Ice

155

410

-35

.9

.12

Shell Super 2000

155

410

-35

1.0

.13

Shell Truck Guard

155

405

-35

1.0

.15

Spectro Golden M.G.

175

405

-40

---

---

Unocal Super

153

428

-33

.92

.12

Valvoline All Climate

410

-26

1.0

.11

_

Valvoline Turbo

135

410

-26

.99

.13

Valvoline Race

130

410

-26

1.2

.20

Valvoline Synthetic

140

450

-40

<1.5

.12

_

5W-30

AMSOIL (old)

168

480

-76

---

AMSOIL (new)

186

464

-76

---

---

Castrol GTX

156

400

-35

.80

.12

Chevron Supreme

202?

354

-46

.96

.11

Chevron Supreme Synt.

446

-72

1.1

.12

_

Exxon Superflow HP

148

392

-22

.70

.11

Havoline Formula 3

158

420

-40

1.0

---

Mobil 1

165

445

-65

---

---

Mystic JT8

161

390

-25

.95

.1

Quaker State

165

405

-35

.9

---

Red Line

151

455

-49

---

---

Shell Fire and Ice

167

405

-35

.9

.12

Unocal

151

414

-33

.81

.12

Valvoline All Climate

405

-40

1.0

.11

_

Valvoline Turbo

158

405

-40

.99

.13

Valvoline Synthetic

160

435

-40

<1.5

.12

All of the oils above meet current SG/CD ratings and all vehicle
manufacture's warranty requirements in the proper viscosity. All are "good
enough", but those with the better numbers are icing on the cake.

The synthetics offer the only truly significant differences, due to their
superior high temperature oxidation resistance, high film strength, very
low tendency to form deposits, stable viscosity base, and low temperature
flow characteristics. Synthetics are superior lubricants compared to
traditional petroleum oils. You will have to decide if their high cost is
justified in your application.

The extended oil drain intervals given by the vehicle manufacturers
(typically 7500 miles) and synthetic oil companies (up to 25,000 miles)
are for what is called normal service. Normal service is defined as the
engine at normal operating temperature, at highway speeds, and in a dust
free environment. Stop and go, city driving, trips of less than 10 miles,
or extreme heat or cold puts the oil change interval into the severe
service category, which is 3000 miles for most vehicles. Synthetics can be
run two to three times the mileage of petroleum oils with no problems.
They do not react to combustion and combustion by-products to the extent
that the dead dinosaur juice does. The longer drain intervals possible
help take the bite out of the higher cost of the synthetics. If your car
or bike is still under warranty you will have to stick to the recommended
drain intervals. These are set for petroleum oils and the manufacturers
make no official allowance for the use of synthetics.

Oil additives should not be used. The oil companies have gone to great
lengths to develop an additive package that meets the vehicle's
requirements. Some of these additives are synergistic, that is the effect
of two additives together is greater than the effect of each acting
separately. If you add anything to the oil you may upset this balance and
prevent the oil from performing to specification.

The numbers above are not, by any means, all there is to determining what
makes a top quality oil. The exact base stock used, the type, quality, and
quantity of additives used are very important. The given data combined
with the manufacturer's claims, your personal experience, and the
reputation of the oil among others who use it should help you make an
informed choice.